Protest du Jour: Anti-war movement turns up the heat

For more than a week now, anti-war protesters have been marching on the Port of Olympia, where equipment from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the Stryker Brigade, is being unloaded for return to Fort Lewis.

Protest organizers initially said they were looking for a peaceful demonstration, even asking supporters to bring their families. But Tuesday night, 50 protesters were arrested in a clash with police.

This new Thursday morning from The Associated Press:

Military equipment is on the move again at the Port of Olympia and so are anti-war protesters.

At least three semi-trucks have left the port carrying Stryker vehicles used in Iraq back to Fort Lewis.

Anti-war protest leaders say they’re mobilizing again, and a squad of police in riot gear is at the scene.

It was relatively quiet overnight, but in the past week 60 anti-war demonstrators have been arrested trying to block military equipment that is being unloaded.

And in Seattle, two anti-war marches on Friday could delay afternoon traffic and part of the evening commute, city officials warned.

A March Against the War will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the south plaza of Seattle Central Community College, at Broadway and East Pine Street. The march will move west on Pine to Westlake Park on Fourth Avenue and is expected to last 30 to 45 minutes. About 250 people are expected to take part.

A second protest march, Youth March for Books not Bombs, will begin at 2:15 p.m. at Westlake Park. It will move west on Pine Street to Second Avenue, south on Second to Jackson, east on Jackson to 23rd Avenue South, south on 23rd to Dearborn Street and then west on Dearborn to Judkins Park.

As many as 3,000 people are expected to participate, according to a city announcement, which said anyone traveling into or out of the downtown core area “should plan on delays in their commute as the peak afternoon traffic will be impacted.”